Delayed Retirement Credits
Crunching the numbers of early versus delaying Social Security
You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. If you start receiving benefits early, your benefits will be permanently reduced. However, you are entitled to full benefits only when you start at your full…
Claiming at 62, is it a matter of longevity and risk
You can claim Social Security benefits starting at age 62, but your benefits will be reduced if you claim before your full retirement age. Delaying your claim past your full retirement age can increase your monthly benefits by eight percent…
Ask Rusty – Why Didn’t My Friend’s Wife Get All Her SS Immediately?
Dear Rusty: A friend told me about what he believes is a strange thing in the Social Security system. His wife reached her full retirement age (FRA) of 66 several years ago. She delayed filing for Social Security past her…
Why only 8% wait until age 70
You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you are entitled to full benefits only when you reach your full retirement age. If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age…
Another Vote for Delayed Benefit Claiming
Claim Social Security at age 62, wait until full retirement age (FRA), or hold off until age 70 and take advantage of delayed retirement credit. You’ve seen and heard the arguments for all three of these strategies, and there are…
Earning the Maximum Social Security Retirement Benefit
For 2026, the highest possible monthly retirement benefit available will be $5,251 after application of the annual cost-of-living adjustment. Sounds like a lot, of course, and many folks wonder how to go about setting themselves up to collect that size…
Delaying Benefits to Age 70–The Argument Rages
Claiming Social Security benefits at age 62–the earliest possible age to collect retirement benefits–is still the most popular choice for those aging into the system. More than a fifth of new filers choose that option, despite the reduction from their…
Ask Rusty – Should I Ask for Retroactive Benefits?
Dear Rusty: I turn 70 next month, October 3, and am making an application for Social Security benefits to begin in January 2026. I want the maximum Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs) and the highest permanent monthly benefit. I do not…
Ask Rusty – How Do I Navigate the Social Security Maze?
Dear Rusty: I am a woman, turning 65 this October (2025). It seems that deciding when to claim Social Security is complicated. I would like more information to navigate through this maze. Thank you. Signed: Ready to Claim Dear Ready:…
Ask Rusty – Should I Wait until Age 70 to Claim Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I am a married woman, at my full retirement age, and the primary earner in my marriage. How do I know if I should take my Social Security now or wait till 70? I will lose quite a…